Santa Fe Christian Vaults Into Open Division Playoffs to Face Carlsbad
Santa Fe Christian has secured the No. 4 seed in the Open Division football playoffs, vaulting into the bracket after a shift in MaxPreps ratings. The Eagles will travel to face top-seeded Carlsbad in the semifinals on November 13, 2026, sandiegouniontribune.com reported.
The postseason picture shifted when La Costa Canyon High School lost to Torrey Pines, dropping the Mavericks’ rating from 76.79 to 76.13. Santa Fe Christian capitalized on the opening, claiming the final spot in the four-team Open Division bracket released Sunday.
How the Open Division Bracket Shook Out
The top four teams in the Open Division are anchored by Carlsbad at No. 1, Cathedral Catholic at No. 2, and Mission Hills at No. 3, with Santa Fe Christian rounding out the field at No. 4. Cathedral Catholic enters the postseason riding a four-game win streak, having outscored opponents 174-38.
“We’re right where we should be,” Cathedral Catholic coach Sean Doyle told sandiegouniontribune.com. “We’re an Open Division team. Now we need to prove it.”
With Santa Fe Christian moving up into the Open Division, Helix assumes the No. 1 seed in the eight-team Division 1 bracket, which also begins play on November 13, 2026. La Costa Canyon slotted into the No. 2 seed for Division 1, followed by Oceanside and Granite Hills, while Lincoln secured the No. 6 seed.
The David-Versus-Goliath Test Against Carlsbad
Santa Fe Christian earned its Open Division berth by completing a 10-0 regular season, bringing the program’s record to 32-3 over the last three seasons. The team captured the Division 2 championship last year by defeating Steele Canyon, a significant jump from 2024 when the Eagles competed as the 12th seed in Division 1.
Division II (11/6 @ 7:00 PM)(8) Holtville vs. (9) Ramona(5) Mater Dei Catholic vs. (12) Mount Miguel(6) El Camino vs. (11) Grossmont(7) Imperial vs. (10) Patrick HenryFirst-Round Byes: #1 Poway, #2 Del Norte, #3 St. Augustine, #4 Point Loma
Despite the flawless record, critics point to Santa Fe Christian’s strength of schedule, which MaxPreps lists at 29.9. That figure trails Carlsbad at 45.0, Mission Hills at 47.7, and Cathedral Catholic at 50.0. Santa Fe Christian coach Jon Wallace defended his squad’s resume, noting regular-season matchups against Helix, Steele Canyon, Westview, New Orleans Newman, and Los Angeles King/Drew.
“I hope people appreciate what this group has been able to accomplish,” Wallace told sandiegouniontribune.com. “This is a talented, tough, gritty team, and we’ll give Carlsbad everything we have. It will be a tall order, a David-vs.-Goliath game.”
Santa Fe Christian Faces Carlsbad in Semifinals
The upcoming semifinal matchup on November 13, 2026, sends Santa Fe Christian on the road to face Carlsbad. Winners of the semifinal games advance to play on November 20 at a site that remains to be determined.
The Open Division final is currently planned for Southwestern College. However, organizers may relocate the championship game to Escondido High School if Southwestern hosts a junior college football playoff game that same week. Meanwhile, lower-division tournaments across Divisions 2, 3, 4, 5, and 5-AA open their brackets on November 6, 2026, while the 8-man Division 6 playoffs start on November 13.